The training ground was empty.
For the first time…
Kushina was glad.
No whispers.
No eyes.
No voices.
Just silence.
And even that felt wrong.
She stood in the middle of the field.
Arms loose.
Gaze lowered.
"…I don't care."
Silence.
A faint pulse inside her.
"…liar…"
Kushina closed her eyes.
"I said I don't care."
"…and yet you're here… alone…"
Her hands tightened slightly.
"I'm training."
A low rumble.
"…you're hiding…"
Kushina opened her eyes.
"Shut up."
Silence.
A moment.
Then—
"…you're angry…"
Kushina lifted her hand.
A chain formed.
Instantly.
But it wasn't calm.
It trembled.
Unstable.
"I'm not angry."
The chain slammed into the ground.
Too hard.
A crack split the earth.
"…damn it…"
"…you're lying to yourself…"
Kushina turned away.
"I have it under control."
A quiet laugh echoed.
"…no… you don't…"
The air grew heavier.
The feeling inside her—
shifted.
Restless.
Aggressive.
Her breathing quickened.
"…not now…"
She closed her eyes.
Breathed in.
Out.
Tried to steady herself.
But the thoughts came back.
The looks.
The voices.
"Monster."
Her eyes snapped open.
"…shut up…"
"…they're right…"
"NO."
The chain shot forward.
Hard.
Fast.
The ground shook.
Another one.
And another.
"I'm not a monster!"
The chains lashed wildly.
Uncontrolled.
Violent.
The training ground began to break apart.
Dust filled the air.
Kushina gasped.
"…stop…"
But it got worse.
"…you can't control it…"
"I can!"
Another strike.
The ground cracked deeper.
Her body trembled.
"…this isn't me…"
A low growl.
Satisfied.
"…it is…"
Kushina dropped to one knee.
Her hands pressed against her stomach.
"…too loud…"
The voices.
The pressure.
Everything at once.
Too much.
Too heavy.
"…please… stop…"
Silence.
For a moment.
Then—
Footsteps.
Daichi.
He appeared beside her instantly.
His expression sharp.
"Kushina."
No answer.
Only chaos.
The chains struck again.
Daichi moved fast.
Grabbing her shoulders.
"Kushina! Look at me!"
Her eyes were unfocused.
Unstable.
"…I can't…"
"Yes, you can."
His voice was calm.
Firm.
"Stay here."
A moment.
A breath.
Her gaze flickered.
The chains slowed.
Just a little.
"…I'm losing…"
"No."
Pause.
"You're fighting."
Silence.
A tremble.
Then—
slowly—
the chains weakened.
Faded.
The dust settled.
The air calmed.
Kushina collapsed forward slightly.
Her breathing uneven.
Tears in her eyes.
"…I didn't want this…"
Silence.
Daichi didn't let go.
"I know."
Kushina looked at him.
"…what if they're right…?"
A moment passed.
Then he said quietly:
"Then prove them wrong."
Silence.
A low presence stirred inside her.
Not mocking.
Not loud.
Just… there.
Kushina closed her eyes.
Her breathing slowly steadied.
But deep inside—
it wasn't quiet.
And it wouldn't be.
Not anytime soon.